Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Boston Celtis begin the 2009-10 season tonight in Cleveland against the LeBron James and the new-look Cavaliers with Shaquille O'Neal as Cleveland's biggest off-season acquisition.
Here is a quick look at how the national news organizations predict things will shake out at the end of the season.
- The Sporting News: TSN has the Celtics losing in the Eastern Conference finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics age apparently is the deciding factor as "a younger, more athletic Cavs team figures to be too much for Boston."
- ESPN: ESPN.com's group of NBA experts average ranking int the Eastern Conference for the Celtics is 2.1 just behind Cleveland. The Cavaliers are the favorites with an average ranking of 1.7.
- Sports Illustrated: SI predicts banner number 18 for The Green. NBA Writer Ian Thomsen gives the Celtics the second seed in the East behind Cleveland, but he has the Celtics beating the Cavs in the East finals and then beating the Lakers for the title.
- FOX Sports: Foxsports.com doesn't pick a particular winner in the East, instead previewing the Lakers match-ups with the Cavaliers, Celtics and Magic.However, NBA columnist Charley Rosen gives the Lakers the edge in a Celtics-Lakers match-up largely because of the Ron Artest addition. It should be noted that Rosen is a very close friend of Lakers coach Phil Jackson. The two have coached together before, and they've co-authored the book "More Than A Game."
- USA Today: The paper's tag team of Chris Colston and Jeff Zillgitt were split on the decision. Colston picked the Celtics to win the East and the NBA title with Celtics head coach Doc Rivers taking Coach of the Year honors. Meanwhile, Zillgitt gives the East crown and the NBA Championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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